Maritime Security Strategy must protect critical infrastructure
Maritime Security Strategy must protect critical infrastructure - The Labour Party
Labour’s Foreign Affairs spokesperson Duncan Smith TD has today warned that the Government’s new Maritime Security Strategy, due to be unveiled tomorrow, must strengthen the protection of Ireland’s seas without undermining our long held policy of military neutrality. Speaking in advance of the publication of the plan, Deputy Smith called on Government to publish the long promised National Security Strategy and to guarantee that enhanced maritime cooperation with allies will not open the door to any binding military alliance.
Deputy Smith said:
“Ireland faces real and growing challenges at sea. Our waters carry critical energy infrastructure, undersea data cables and vital trade routes. We have seen increased military activity in the North Atlantic and heightened geopolitical tension across Europe. In that context, it is right that Government brings forward a Maritime Security Strategy. Ireland must take the protection of our seas seriously.
“We need to maximise our relationships with friendly states such as the United Kingdom and France when it comes to intelligence sharing, joint monitoring and the protection of critical infrastructure. We are already a NATO Partnership for Peace country and we work with other states on security and peacekeeping. That practical cooperation will and should continue. Ireland cannot patrol and protect its vast maritime area alone. Anyone who suggests we can operate in isolation ignores the scale of the challenge we face.
“However, cooperation must not become a cover for mission creep. There can be no drift towards a binding military alliance that would destroy our military neutrality. The Irish people value our independent foreign policy. They support constructive engagement with partners, but they do not support surrendering decision making power over our defence and security to any military bloc.
“At the same time, we must ask why we are still waiting for a comprehensive National Security Strategy. Ministers have promised this document for years. It should set out clearly how Ireland assesses threats, how we coordinate across Government, and how we balance security with our values. Instead, we see piecemeal announcements and reactive measures. A credible maritime strategy must sit within a wider, coherent national security framework. Without that, we risk lurching from crisis to crisis.”